Novelty trick puzzle



Nov. 15, 192 7.

J. A. BARK ET NOVELTY TRICK PUZ ZLE Filed June 1, 1927 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

rennet :rosnrn A. BARKE'I, or rorrsvinnn, rnnnsytvamn.

NOVELTY TRICK PUZZLE.

Application filed June 1,

This invention relates to games and toys and more particularly to a puzzle of the general type including loosely connected links and a ring carried thereby and capable of being removed it the links and ring are properly manipulated.

One object of the invention is to provide a puzzle of this type in which the ring maybe very easily removed properly manipulated but in which the proper steps to follow will not be readily apparent.

Another object oi the invention is to so connect the links that the ring to be removed may be shifted item a position in which itmay be separated from the links to another position in which it will be impossible to remove it without first returning it to the initial position.

Another object or the invention is to allow the links to be easily moved in relation to each other but to prevent them i rombecoming entirely separated.

The invention is il h istrated in the accompanying drawing", wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the puzzle with the ringin its proper initial position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ring and a terminal link moved to a position occupied during removal of the ring;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a further movement of the ring during removal;

4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of moving the ring to a position in which it cannot be removed from the links without being returned to the position shown .in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a View showing the ring disposed. in the inoperative position. i

The puzzle constituting the subject-matter of this invention is principally formed of wire and includes an upper link 1 a lower link 2, side links 3 and 4 and a terminal link 5. The upper and lower links 1 and 2 each consists of a strand of strong wire and at their ends are bent to form eyes.

6, 7, 8 and 9. The side links 3 and 4 are also formed of wire strands buteach oi these strands is bent intermediate its length to form a U-shaped double link having its arms terminating in eyes 10 and 11 loosely engaged with the eyes 6 and 9 ot the single upper and lower links 1 and 2. It will thus be seen that the upper and lower links each has one end loosely engaged with the eyes 192?. Serial No. 195,765.

at one end of a side link and is slidably passed through the otherend portion of the other side link. Collars 12 and 13 which may be formed of wood or any other suitable material are placed upon the upper and lower links before the eyes 7 and 8 are formed and are disposed between these eyes and the adjacent ends of the side links. It should be noted that these collars preterably taper inwardly and are of such diameter that they may'not pass through the side links. Therefore, they will serve very effectively to prevent the side links and upper and lower links from becoming entirely separated from each other. The terminal link 5 which is also formed of wire has one end bent to provide aneye 14 loosely en gag-ed with the eye 7 of the upper link and at its outer end is bent to form an eyc15 engaged in an opening 16 formed in a abutment disk 17. This disk 17is preferably l ormed of metal, although other ma terials might be employed. similar disk 18 is carried by the eye 8 and formed with an opening 19 to receive the eye. These disks serve to prevent the ring 20 from being improperly removed from the links. The ring 20 is normally disposed upon the lower link 2 and it is the object of the puzzle to remove it from the links. In order to do so, theterminal link 5 together with its disk 17 are first thrust inwardly between the arms of the side link 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the ring is then moved upwardly along the side link 4; until it may be passed over the eyes 7 and 14V to the position shown in full lines in this figure. The ring is then moved to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and after assuming this position it may be slid outwardly along the links 1 and 5 between the arms of the side link 4, as shown in Fig. 3, and -contin ued movement in this direction will allow it to he slid OK the joined ends of the upper link and terminal link, thus completely separating it from the links. It will thus be seen that it the proper steps are followed the ring may be very easily removed but that the necessary steps will not be readily apparent to a person not familiar with the puzzle. It will also be apparent that since the blocks or collars 12 and 13 prevent the links 3 and at from being moved out of straddling engagement with the upper and lowerreplacing the ring, the steps followed when removing it are reversed. By referring to Figs. t and 5, it will be seen that the ring may be transferred from the lower link to the upper link. In order to do so, the links are moved to the position shown in Fig. 4; and the ring slid along the link 2 between the arms of the link 3 to the position shown in full lines at the left ofFig. 4;. It is then moved to the position indicated by dotted lines at the rightof this figure and passed between the arms of the link 4: onto the upper link 1. After the ring has been moved onto the upper link, the links are allowed to assume the position shown in Fig. 5 and it will be found to be impossible to remove the ring until it has been returned to the position shown in Fig. 1. By this arrangement a person can operate the puzzle to show another that it can be solved and then transfer the ring to the position shown in Fig. 5 and allow some one to attempt to solve it. The transfer will, of course, be effected without the second person noticing it. This adds greatly to the interest of the puzzle.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A puzzle comprising side links, upper and lower links each pivotally connected with an end of a side link and slidably passed through the other end of the other side link and formed with an eye at its outer end, inwardly tapered abutments upon the upper and lower links between their eyes and the side links to engage the side links andprevent the outer ends of the upper and lower links from slipping inwardly through the side links, a terminal link having one end loosely engaged with the eye at the outer end of the upper link and formed with an eye at its outer end, disks loosely engaged with the eyes at the outer ends of the lower link and terminal link, the terminal link and disk carried thereby adapted to be thrust inwardly through the adjacent side link, and a ring normally disposed upon the lower link and slidable along the links and through the side links during removal.

2. A puzzle comprising side links, upper and lower links each pivoted to a side link and slidably passed through the other side link, a disk loosely connected with the outer end of the lower link, a terminal link having one end loosely connected with the outer end of the upper link, a disk loosely connected with the other end of said terminal link and adapted to be passed inwardly through the adjacent side link between the upper and lower links together with a portion of the terminal link, and a ring normally loose upon the lower link and slidable longitudinally upon the links and through the last-mentioned side link when removed.

3. A puzzle comprising side links, upper and lower links each pivoted to a side link and slidably passed through the other side link, a' terminal link having one end loosely connected with the outer end of the upper link and adapted to have a portion thrust inwardly through the adjacent side link, means carried by the upper and lower links to prevent complete separation of the side links, from the upper and lower links, and a ring normally loose upon the lower link and slidable longitudinally upon the links and through the last-mentioned side link when removed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH A. BARKET. 

